AU773041B2 - Optical fibre tensioning device and method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre - Google Patents
Optical fibre tensioning device and method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre Download PDFInfo
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Description
I I Our Ref:7565970 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990
ORIGINAL
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Pirelli Cavi E Sistemi S.p.A.
Viale Sarca 222 1-20126 Milano Italy Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: Optical fibre tensioning device and method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 'C847 OPTICAL FIBRE TENSIONING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE TENSION APPLIED TO AN OPTICAL FIBRE
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to an optical fibre tensioning device and a method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre, particularly during the winding of the fibre.
Typically, optical fibres are formed in draw towers from preforms of glass material. A draw tower is generally provided with a traction device ("capstan"), for example a motorized pulley, capable of drawing the optical fibre downwards and feeding it to a storage device; the latter usually comprises a motorized reel ont6 which the optical fibre is wound.
In many operating situations, the speed at which the optical fibre is drawn by the traction device (the drawing speed) may not coincide with the speed at which the optical ::ibre is fed into the storage device, for example owing to fluctuations of the speed of the Smotors which drive the traction device and the storage device. The difference between these speeds gives rise to variations of tension in the fibre with respect to a .target tension; in particular,, a fibre tension greater *:than the target tension may damage the fibre, while a tension lower than the target tension may make the st orage process inefficient.
To solve this problem, there is a known practice 30 -of using -tensioning devices which are to be interposed between the traction device and the storage device and are capable of controlling the tension of the optical fibre. In particular, there are known tensioning devices comprising at least one fixed pulley and one movable pulley which can guide the optical fibre. The movement of the movable pulley enables the tension of the optical fibre to be modified. Here and in the remainder of the description, the term "fixed pulley" denotes a pulley which is free to rotate about its axis 'C8447 2 and in which the position of the axis is fixed, while the term "movable pulley" denotes a pulley which is free to rotate about its axis and in which the position of the axis is variable.
US Patent 4,712,866 describes a tensioning device positioned between a traction device of a draw tower and a storage device comprising a take-up reel. This tensioning device comprises a pair of fixed pulleys and a movable pulley located on an oscillating arm, also called a "dancer arm", which carries a weight. The dancer arm actuates a conventional speed control so that the fibre is wound onto the take-up reel at a tension determined by the aforesaid weight.
US Patent 5,790,292 relating to an optical fibre transmission line describes, among other things, a draw tower in which a tensioning device with two pulleys is interposed between a traction device and a take-up reel (Figure 7).
US Patent 4,138,069 describes a winding device for 20 .optical glass filaments in which a traction device .draws the filament from a source of molten glass and Sfeeds it through a tensioning device to a set of takeup reels. The tensioning device comprises two fixed pulleys and one movable pulley mounted on one end of a dancer arm. The dancer arm extends from an apparatus in which a spring or other means applies a constant force S""to move the movable pulley away from the fixed pulleys.
Tensioning devices can also be used in apparatus other than draw towers.
30 US Patent 5,076,104 describes an apparatus for measuring the load at failure of an optical fibre, in which tensioning devices comprising a pair of fixed pulleys and one movable pulley are provided. Also provided is a tensioning device comprising one fixed grooved wheel and one movable grooved wheel; the latter is positioned below the fixed grooved wheel, is movable in a vertical direction and is connected to a predetermined weight. The optical fibre, which in its PC847 3 path is wound around both the fixed grooved wheel and the movable grooved wheel, is thus kept at a constant tension.
US Patent 4,505,222 describes an extrusion coating device for optical fibres, in which a tensioning device is positioned immediately upstream of a take-up reel.
US Patent 4,127,370 describes an extrusion coating apparatus for an optical fibre, in which a first, a second and a third pulley are positioned at the entry to the apparatus, immediately downstream of the fibre take-off reel. The first and second pulley are spaced apart from each other and from the take-off reel. The third pulley has no support and is carried on the optical fibre between the first and second pulley, in such a way that the fibre passes, as a result of the weight of the third. pulley, along a U-shaped path between the first and second pulley. A pair of photocells is used to detect the vertical position of "the third pulley and to control the speed of rotation 20 of the take-off reel in such a way that the vertical position of the third pulley, and therefore the tension of the fibre, remains essentially constant.
The applicant has observed that tensioning devices of known types, requiring the use of gravity and/or *25 predetermined elastic action for controlling the position of the movable pulley, apply an uncontrollable S predetermined force to the movable pulley. Therefore it S•is not possible to modulate in any way the force applied to the movable pulley in order to modify the response 'of the tensioning device. Consequently, the S"tension control obtained by means of the known devices, being of the non-modulatable type, might be inadequate in some operating conditions.
The applicant has found that the aforesaid problem can be at least partially overcome by using an optical fibre tensioning device in which there is a movable pulley on which the optical fibre runs, a device for measuring the tension applied to the optical fibre and ,PC841 4 a device for moving the movable pulley, capable of controlling the position of the movable pulley in accordance with the signal generated by the tension measuring device.
The tensioning device according to the present invention is capable of receiving at its input an optical fibre from a fibre guide or return element or from a device of another type, for example a traction device or a take-off device, and is capable of supplying the optical fibre from its output, after having automatically controlled its tension, to a further guide or return element, or to a further device, for example a storage device (particularly a reeling device) for the optical fibre.
In greater detail, the tensioning device according to the present invention comprises a fixed pulley carried by a supporting structure and a movable pulley carried by a slide which is slJdable along a rectilinear guide carried by the supporting structure.
20 The optical fibre entering the tensioning device is wound around the fixed pulley for a certain length, and passes from here to the movable pulley around which it is wound for a further length. The distance between the axes of the fixed pulley and the movable pulley is variable to modify the length of the portion of fibre which extends between the two pulleys and consequently S"the tension applied to the fibre. To vary the distance S"between the axes of the fixed pulley and the movable pulley there are used, as mentioned above, a fibre S 30 tension measuring device, for example a load cell associated with the fixed pulley, and a device for moving the slide which can control the distance between the axes of the pulleys in accordance with the signal supplied by the tension measuring device, to automatically keep the tension in the fibre practically constant. The movement device can comprise an electric motor and a system for transmitting the motion from the motor to the slide, for example a screw and nut "PC847 coupling in which the screw extends parallel to the rectilinear guide and is rotationally movable by the force of the motor and in which the nut is coupled to the slide, or a belt transmission, for example a toothed belt transmission.
Since it automatically controls the tension of the fibre without using the force of gravity or other predetermined forces, the aforesaid optical fibre tensioning device can be used to modulate in the desired way the tension applied to the optical fibre.
In this way, the movement of the movable pulley is made entirely independent of the force of gravity or predetermined elastic forces, and is achieved by the application of a controllable force.
Thus a tensioning device which automatically adapts itself to any va:c-iation of the operating conditions is provided.
In a first aspect, th: present invention relates to an optical fibre tensioning device, for use in an 20 optical fibre advance path, comprising at leas.t one movable pulley around which the optical fibre i, wound for a certain length at least; the position of the said movable pulley being variable to modify the tension applied to the optical fibre, and additionally comprising a tension measuring device capable of measuring the said applied tension and of generating a signal indicating the tension, and a motorized device for moving the said movable pulley, capable of receiving the said signal indicating the 30 tension and of moving the movable pulley in accordance with the said signal indicating the tension, to automatically keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant.
Preferably, the tensioning device also comprises a fixed pulley around which the optical fibre is wound for a certain length at least, the distance between the axes of the said fixed pulley and the said movable pulley being variable to modify the tension applied to 'PC847 6 the optical fibre, and the said motorized movement device being capable of controlling the said distance to automatically keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant.
The said motorized movement device may comprise a guide along which a slide supporting the said movable pulley can be moved and an actuator device for moving the said slide along the said guide.
The said actuator device may comprise a screw movable rotationally by the. force of an electric motor and a nut connected to the said slide, or an electric motor and a motion transmission system of the belt type (for example, one using a toothed belt) to connect the motor to the slide.
The tensioning device may comprise an electronic control device which receives reference signals and measurement signals at its input, and is c:apable of generating, in response to the said input signals, operating signals for the closed-loop control of the 20 said motorized movement device.
The said electronic control device is precerably a device for the closed-loop control of the tension applied' to the optical fibre, comprising: a subtractor to which is supplied a tension reference signal, proportional to a target tension of: the optical fibre, and a measurement, signal, consisting of the said signal indicating the tension of the optical fibre; and a controller, preferably a proportional-integral derivative controller, receiving at its input a tension error signal supplied from the output of the said subtractor, and generating at its output a drive signal which can be used to operate the said motorized movement device and to control the said distance.
Thus a closed-loop control of the tension present in the fibre is provided, by means of which this tension is constantly monitored, causing an immediate "'P6847 7 intervention of the movement device whenever the measured tension deviates from the reference tension.
The tension in the fibre is thus kept constantly equal to the reference tension, providing a particularly precise control.
Advantageously, the said tension measuring device may comprise a load cell connected to the said fixed pulley and capable of generating at its output the said signal indicating the tension.
Preferably, the said motorized movement device comprises a guide along which a slide supporting the said movable pulley can be moved, and an actuator device for moving the said slide along the said guide; the said electronic control device implementing a system for the closed-loop control of the position of the said slide along the said guide..
Preferably, the tensioning device is connected for operation to a device for storing the optical fibre, capable of receiving the optical fibre from the 20 tensioning device, and the said system for the closedloop control of the position of the said slide along the said guide comprises: a further subtractor to which is supplied a position reference signal, correlated with a 25 reference position of the said slide along the said guide, and a measurement signal, proportional .to the actual position of the said slide along the •said guide; and a further controller, preferably a proportionalintegral derivative controller, receiving at its input a- position error signal supplied from the output of the said further subtractor, and generating at its output a further drive signal which can be used to operate the said storage device.
The said storage device preferably comprises at least one motorized reel on which the optical fibre from the said tensioning device is wound, the said PC847' motorized reel being rotationally movable about an axis of rotation under the action of an electric motor, and the said further drive signal being usable for the control of the said electric motor.
The said electronic control device preferably comprises an integrator receiving at its input a signal correlated with the speed of movement of the said slide along the said guide and generating at its output the said measurement signal proportional to the actual position of the said slide along the said guide.
In this way, it is ensured that the movable pulley is always kept in the proximity of a reference position from which it is always possible to move the movable pulley in a useful way to compensate for a variation of tension; thus the slide is not permitted to be positioned at a terminal position at which it is no longer possible to move the movable pulley in one of directions of movement.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates 20 to a method of controlling the tension applied to an: *optical fibre along a path of advance of an optical fibre, the said method comprising the stage of forming a portion of the said path having a length which can be '.varied to modify the tension applied to the said fibre, and the stages of measuring the tension applied to the optical fibre and controlling the said length in an automatic way, by means of a motor, in accordance with the said measured tension, to keep the tension of the optical fibre practically constant.
Preferably, the method comprises the stage of closed-loop control of the tension applied to the said optical fibre in accordance with at least one reference signal, proportional to a target tension of the fibre, and a measurement signal which is generated in this stage of measuring the tension and is proportional to the tension to which the optical fibre is actually subjected.
,PC847" 9 The said stage of closed-loop control of the tension preferably comprises the stages of: comparing the said tension reference signal with the said measurement signal, generating a tension error signal; and processing the said error signal, generating at the output a drive signal which can be used to modify the said length by means of a motor and to keep the tension in the fibre essentially constant.
The method preferably comprises the stage of closed-loop control of the position of a movable member in accordance with at least one position reference signal which is proportional to a target position of the said movable member, and a measurement signal which is proportional to the instantaneous position of the said movable member, the variation of the position of the said movable member causing the variation of the said length.
The method preferably also comprises the stage of 20 storing the optical fibre at the end of the said advance path;! the said stage of closed-loop control of the position of the said movable member comprises the stages of: comparing the said position reference signal with 25 the said position measurement signal, generating a position error signal; and processing the said position error signal, generating at the output a drive signal which can be used to modify the speed at which the optical fibre is stored.
.i In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an optical fibre processing system, for example a draw tower, an extrusion line or an apparatus for measuring the breaking strength of an optical fibre, in which there is an optical fibre tensioning device capable of receiving at its input an optical fibre from a source of optical fibre, for example an optical fibre traction device, and capable of supplying the optical Pt:84i fibre from its output to a device for storing the optical fibre, for example a motorized reel, the said tensioning device comprising at least one movable pulley around which the said optical fibre is wound for a certain length at least, the position of the said movable pulley being variable to modify the tension applied to the said fibre, the tensioning device additionally comprising a tension measuring device capable of measuring the said applied tension and of generating a signal indicating the tension, and a device for the motorized movement of the said movable pulley which is capable of receiving the said signal indicating the tension and of moving the movable pulley in accordance with the said signal indicating the tension to automatically keep the tension in the fibre practically constant.
Preferably, the system comprises an electronic :control device capable of providing a system of closedloop control of the tension applied to the optical fibre, and comprising: a subtractor to which is supplied a tension reference signal, proportional to a target tension of the optical fibre, and a measurement signal, :0:a consisting of the said signal indicating the 0.0*0 25 tension; and a controller, preferably a proportional-integral 0 0. derivative controller, receiving at its input a tension error signal supplied from the output of the said subtractor, and generating at its output .me.
0 30 a drive signal which can be used to operate the S. S said motorized movement device.
Preferably, the said motorized movement device comprises a guide, along which a slide supporting the said movable pulley can be moved, and an actuator device for moving the said slide along the said guide; the said electronic control device providing a system of closed-loop control of the position of the said slide along the said guide.
Pt847 11 Preferably, the tensioning device is connected for operation to the optical fibre storage device, and the said system for the closed-loop control of the position of the said slide along the said guide comprises: a further subtractor to which is supplied a position reference signal, correlated with a reference position of the said slide along the said guide, and a measurement signal, proportional to the actual position of the said slide along the said guide; and a further controller, preferably a proportionalintegral derivative controller, receiving at its input a position error signal supplied from the output of the said further subtractor, and generating at its output a further drive signal which can be used to operate the said storage device.
The invention will now be illustrated with particular reference to the attached drawings which 20 represent, without restriction, a preferred embodiment of the invention in which: Figure 1 shows, in plan view, a tensioning device for optical fibres, made according to the present invention; and e Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an electronic unit for controlling the device of Figure 1, made according to the present invention.
•In Figure 1, the number 1 indicates, as a whole, an optical fibre tensioning device.
S 30 The tensioning device 1 comprises a supporting panel 3 (made from metal, for example) carried by a frame (not illustrated) which allows it to be positioned in a fixed way, for example in a horizontal or a vertical position.
The tensioning device 1 also comprises at least one rectilinear guide 5, which in this particular case is formed by two cylindrical rods 12a, 12b carried by the supporting panel 3, and a slide 7 movable with a ,PC847' 12 reversible motion along the rectilinear guide 5 and supporting a first pulley 9, referred to hereafter as the movable pulley. The direction of movement of the slide 7 is indicated by D in Figure i.
The cylindrical rods 12a, 12b are positioned parallel to each other, and have their respective end portions carried by pairs of supports 15a, 15b fixed to the supporting panel 3. The slide 7 can have a rectangular shape in plan view, and can be provided with sliding elements 7a, 7b engaged with the rods 12a, 12b respectively; for example, the slidable engagement between the slide 7 and the rods 12a, 12b can be formed by means of sliding bearings 18, or ball-bearing collars.
The movable pulley 9 is preferably carried by a pin 20 which extends from, and is perpendicular to, the slide 7, in such a way that the axis of rotation of the movable pulley 9 is perpendicular to the direction D of movement of the slide 7.
20 The slide 7 can be moved by the force of an Selectrical motor 24, preferably a motor having an output shaft connected to a screw 26 located between the rods 12a, 12b and extending parallel to these. The motor 24 can be mounted in a projecting way on a bracket 28 fixed to the panel 3, and the ends of the screw 26 are preferably supported by corresponding supports 30a, 30b which are also fixed to the panel 3.
Advantageously, the screw 26 is coupled to a circulating ball nut (not illustrated) fixed to the 30 slide 7 on the side opposite the movable pulley 9.
Alternatively, the transmission of motion from the motor 24 to the movable pulley 9 could be provided by means of a belt transmission, with a toothed belt for example (not illustrated) The tensioning device 1 also comprises a second pulley 32, referred to hereafter as the fixed pulley, carried by a pin 33 which preferably extends perpendicularly to the panel 3, for example in a ,,PC847" 13 portion of the panel 3 opposite that occupied by the motor 24.
The fixed pulley 32 preferably has the same diameter as the movable pulley 9, and the axes of rotation of the pulleys 9 and 32 are preferably parallel to each other.
The angular rotation of the electric motor 24 produces the linear movement of the slide 7 along the guide 5, thus modifying the distance Dp between the axes of rotation of the movable pulley 9 and the fixed pulley 32.
In particular, the distance Dp is continuously variable between a minimum value (DpMin) for which the slide 7 is located at a first terminal position (not illustrated) in which it bears on the brackets 15a, which are farther from the motor 24, and a maximum value (DpMax) for which the slide 7 is located at a second terminal position (not shown) at which it bears on the brackets 15a, 15b which are closer to the motor 20 24.
o•, "The tensioning device 1 can also comprise a transparent protective enclosure (carter not shown) which can be connected to the supporting panel 3 and can house all the parts carried by the panel 3.
The tensioning device 1 is capable of being fitted in an advance path of an optical fibre 35, for example in a draw tower (not illustrated) for the optical fibre, and is capable of receiving the optical fibre from a source of optical fibre 37 (shown schematically). In the non-restrictive example considered here, the source of optical fibre 37 is a traction device ("capstan") of an optical fibre draw tower (not illustrated). Alternatively, the source of optical fibre 37 could be any member or device for returning or guiding the optical fibre, or an optical fibre take-off reel.
The optical fibre 35 extends from the traction device 37 to the fixed pulley 32, forming a first P6847 14 rectilinear portion 35a, is wound (through 1800 for example) around the fixed pulley 32, extends between the fixed pulley 32 and the movable pulley 9, forming a second rectilinear portion 35b, is wound (through 1800 for example) around the movable pulley 9, and finally extends between the movable pulley 9 and a further device 40, thus forming a third rectilinear portion In the non-restrictive example considered here, the device 40 (shown schematically) is a storage device comprising a motorized reel 42 on to which the optical fibre 35 can be wound. The motorized reel 42 is movable rotationally about an axis of rotation 43 under the action of an electric motor 45. Alternatively, the device 40 can be any member or device for returning or guiding the optical fibre.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the rectilinear portions 35a, 35b, 35c are parallel to each other.
Between the device 37 and the tensioning device 1, and between the tensioning device 1 and the device there may advantageously be return pulleys which, for simplicity, are not shown in Figure 1.
:°ooeo An electronic control unit 50 is capable of controlling, through corresponding power driver circuits ("drivers") 24p, 45p, the electric motor 24 and the electric motor Advantage6usly, the tensioning device 1 comprises a tension measuring device 56, for example a load cell, preferably connected to the pin 33 of the fixed pulley 32. The tension measuring device 56 is capable of Se. 30 generating a signal Tmis proportional to the tension to which the optical fibre 35 is subjected, and is connected to the electronic control unit 50 to supply the signal Tmis to the electronic control unit With particular reference to Figure 2, the electronic unit 50 is illustrated in detail. The electronic unit 50 comprises a subtractor 60 to which is supplied a signal To, proportional to a target tension of the fibre, and the signal Tmis, proportional ,PC847 to the tension to which the optical fibre 35 is actually subjected. The subtractor 60 generates at its output an error signal e AT To Tmis (tension error) and supplies this error signal to a controller 62, particularly a PID (proportional-integral derivative) controller, which generates at its output a signal (o (a voltage signal, compatible with the drive circuit 24p which is operated by means of voltage).
A PID controller is a controller which, having received an input signal Si, generates an output signal So, typically given by: dS) T1 0 dt A PID controller can therefore be identified by the three constants Kp, Ki=Kp/Ti and Kd=Kp-Td.
The signal o is used, after having been converted and transformed into a power signal by the drive circuit 24p (of a known type), to operate the motor 24.
The speed of rotation of the motor 24 is therefore correlated with the signal o. The signal o is also 20 supplied to a conversion unit 64, which generates at its output a signal V correlated with the linear speed of movement of the slide 7 along the guide In practice, if vmax is the maximum speed of the motor 24 (expressed in Cmax is the (electric 25 voltage) value of the signal with which the maximum speed Vmax is associated, p is the pitch of the screw 26 and c(t) is the generic value of the signal o at the instant t (supplied from the output of the controller 62), the conversion unit 64 generates at its output a signal V whose value V(t) at the instant t is given by: )max In practice, the conversion unit 64 implements the transfer function which relates the angular rotation of the screw 26 to the linear speed of the slide 7.
The signal V is supplied to a further conversion unit 66, which, by integrating the signal V, generates PC847 16 at its output a signal Pmis (electric voltage) relating to the instantaneous position of the slide 7 along the guide The position signal Pmis is supplied to a subtractor 70 to which a signal Po, proportional to a target position of the slide 7 along the guide 5, is also supplied. Preferably, the target position of the slide is the position intermediate between the first and second terminal positions.
The subtractor 70 generates at its output an error signal AP P0-Pmis, and supplies this error signal to a controller 72 (in particular, a PID (proportionalintegral derivative) controller), which generates at its output a signal cb which is used, after having been converted and transformed into a power signal by the drive circuit 45p (of a known type), to operate the motor 45. The signal ob is correlated with the speed of rotation of the reel 42.
In operation, when the storage device imparts to *20 the incoming optical fibre 35 a higher speed than the speed at which it is supplied from the output of the traction device 37, the tension Tmis in the fibre increases and deviates from the target value To.
Consequently, the tension error AT (which is negative in this case) increases in absolute value, and the controller 62, through the drive circuit 2 4 p, causes a rotation of the motor 24 such that the slide 7 is made to move towards the first terminal position, and consequently the distance Dp and the length of the S: 30 portion 35b of fibre located between the two pulleys 9 and 32 are decreased; the decrease of the length of the portion 35b is thus opposed to the increase of tension in the fibre, in such a way that the tension in the fibre is kept essentially constant.
Conversely, when the storage device 40 imparts to the incoming optical fibre 35 a lower speed than the speed at which it is supplied from the output of the traction device 37, the tension Tmis in the fibre PC84'7 17 decreases and deviates from the target value To.
Consequently, the tension error AT (which is positive this time) increases, and the controller 62, through the drive circuit 24p, causes a rotation of the motor 24 such that the slide 7 is made to move towards the second terminal position, and consequently the distance Dp and the length of the portion 35b are increased; the increase of the length of the portion 35b is opposed to the decrease of tension in the fibre in such a way that the tension in the fibre is kept essentially constant.
Thus a motorized closed-loop control of tension is provided, which returns the tension in the fibre to the target value To.
Additionally, the unit 66, by integrating the signal V (correlated with the linear speed of the slide determines the instantaneous position Pmis of the slide 7 along the guide 5. This instantaneous position ::is compared with the objective position Po, and the position error AP, processed by the conversion unit 72, produces a variation of the speed of rotation of the motor 45. In particular, when the slide 7 is closer than the reference position to the first terminal position (with the slide 7 moved to the left in Figure the control system produces a decrease of the speed of rotation of the motor 45 in such a way that the S. tension in the fibre 35 decreases and the tension control loop, in order to compensate for this variation oooe• of tension, moves the slide 7 (by means of the motor 24 and the screw 26) towards the second terminal position (in other words to the right in Figure thus compensating for the variation of position.
Additionally, when the slide 7 is closer than the reference position to the second terminal position (with the slide 7 moved to the right in Figure the control system produces an increase of the speed of rotation of the motor 45 in such a way that the tension in the fibre 35 increases and the tension control loop, in order to compensate for this variation of tension, i r PC847 18 moves the slide 7 (by means of the motor 24 and the screw 26) towards the first terminal position (in other words to the left in Figure thus compensating for the variation of position.
Thus a closed-loop position control is provided, which returns the slide to the target position P0.
If preferred, the position controller could be dispensed with; in this case, the control device would not include the elements indicated by the numbers 64, 66, 70, 72 and The above description clearly shows the advantages of the present invention, in that the movement of the movable pulley 9 depends solely on the action of the electric motor 24 and is entirely independent of the force of gravity or other predetermined forces (of the elastic type, for example) applied to the movable pulley 9. This, a force whose value can be automatically controlled in accordance with the operating signal applied to the motor 24 is applied to the optical fibre 35. The tensioning device 1 adapts itself automatically to any change in operating ooeo requirements (such as a change in the drawing speed, or change in the position of the slide 7) and returns the value of the tension applied to the fibre to a target value.
Additionally, it is ensured that the movable pulley 9 is always kept close to a reference position (in particular, the central position of the guide from which it can always be moved in a useful way (to the right or to the left) to effectively oppose a change in tension. In other words, the slide 7 is prevented from being positioned close to the first or second terminal position, where the movement of the slide in one of the two directions is no longer possible.
The tensioning device 1 can be used in apparatus of different types, for example in a draw tower, in an extrusion line or in a test apparatus (also known as a PC847 19 "screening apparatus") for testing the optical fibre in respect of the breaking stresses.
A draw tower typically comprises a furnace for melting a preform of glass material, a traction member (or "capstan", for example one of the single pulley or double pulley type) for drawing downwards the optical fibre generated from the melted preform, a coating device positioned between the furnace and the traction member to apply a protective surface coating A(typically made from acrylate) to the optical fibre, and a fibre take-up reel receiving the fibre from the. traction member. The tensioning device 1 can advantageously be positioned, as mentioned above, between the traction member and the take-up reel.
An extrusion line is a processing line along which a plurality of optical fibres are made to advance with a wire-shaped supporting element, and along which a polymer material is extruded over the supporting :oooelement in such a way as to incorporate the optical 20 fibres and hold them in a fixed position around the supporting element, thus forming the optical core of an optical fable. An extrusion line typically comprises a take-off reel for the supporting element, a plurality 9*99 of fibre take-off reels, an extruder capable of receiving both the fibres and the supporting element at its inlet, a cooling vessel receiving from the extruder the optical core formed in the extruder, and a final take-up reel. In an extrusion line, the tensioning device 1 can, for example, be positioned downstream of 30 each of the fibre take-off reels.
A screening apparatus is typically used to check that the fibre is capable of withstanding predetermined tensions, and is therefore free of significant structural defects. A screen apparatus typically comprises a take-off reel for the optical fibre, a take-up reel for the optical fibre and a plurality of guide and/or return elements capable of forming a path for the optical fibre between the take-off and take-up I reels and capable of imparting a predetermined tension to the optical fibre during its passage. In a screening apparatus, the device 1 can be positioned at any point of the aforesaid path.
Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the tensioning device described without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
In particular, the system for moving the slide 7 (screw 26 and nut coupled to the slide 7) could be different from that described, and could comprise, for example, a toothed belt (not illustrated) connected to the slide 7 and movable between two end pulleys.
Finally, the position Pmis of the slide 7 along the guide 5 could be determined not in an indirect way (in other words, following the measurement of the speed) as illustrated in Figure 2, but in a direct way, using a row of position sensors (not illustrated), for 2 example a row of photocells, or an optical strip (in other words a linear photosensitive component, for example a linear CCD not illustrated), arranged along the guide Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.
Claims (22)
1. Optical fibre tensioning device, for use in a path of advance of an optical fibre, comprising at least one movable pulley around which the optical fibre is wound for a certain length at least; the position of the said movable pulley being variable to modify the tension applied to the optical fibre, characterised in that it comprises a tension measuring device capable of measuring the said applied tension and of generating a signal indicating the tension, and a motorised movement device for the said movable pulley, capable of receiving the said signal indicating the tension, and of moving the movable pulley in accordance with the said signal indicating the tension, to automatically keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that it also comprises a fixed pulley around which the optical fibre is wound for a certain length at least; the distance between ":the axes of the said fixed pulley and of the said movable pulley being variable to modify 15 the tension ipplied to, the optical fibre; the said motorised movement device being capable :i of controlling, the said distance to automatically keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant. *ooo
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said motorised movement device comprises a guide along which a slide supporting the said movable pulley can be moved, and an actuator device for moving the said slide along the said guide
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the said actuator device o comprises a screw which is rotationally movable under the force of an electric motor and a S• nut coupled to the said slide.
Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the said actuator device comprises an electric motor and a motion transmission system of the belt type.
6. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that it comprises an electronic control device which receives reference signals and measurement signals at its input, and is capable of generating, in response to the said input signals, operating signals for the closed-loop control of the said motorised movement device. P:\WPDOCSAMDSPECI\7565970doc-22 Decembr 2000 -22-
7. Device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the said electronic control device forms a system for the closed-loop control of the tension applied to the said optical fibre, comprising: a subtractor to which is supplied a tension reference signal, proportional to a target tension of the optical fibre, and a measurement signal, consisting of the said signal indicating the tension; and a controller, receiving at its input a tension error signal supplied from the output of the said subtractor, and generating at its output a drive signal which can be used to operate the said motorised movement device and to control the said distance.
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the said controller comprises a proportional-integral derivative controller.
9. Device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the said tension measuring device comprises a load cell connected to the said fixed pulley and capable of generating at its output the said signal indicating the tension.: 15
10. Device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the said motorised movement device comprises a guide along which a slide supporting the said movable pulley can be moved, and an actuator device for moving the said slide along the said guide; *999 the said electronic control device implementing a system for the closed-loop control of the position of the said slide along the said guide.
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterised in that it is connected for operation to a device for storing the optical fibre, capable of receiving the optical fibre from the tensioning device, and in that the said system for the closed-loop control of the position of the said slide along the said guide comprises: a further subtractor to which is supplied a position reference signal correlated with 25 a reference position of the said slide along the said guide, and a measurement signal proportional to the actual position of the said slide along the said guide; and a further controller, receiving at its input a position error signal supplied from the output of the said further subtractor, and generating at its output a further drive sign which can be used to operate the said storage device.
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the said further. controller, comprises a proportional integral derivative controller. P: WPDOCSAMD PECI76S5970.dOc-22 Decembu 2000 -23
13. Device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the said storage device comprises at least one motorised reel on which the optical fibre from, the said tensioning device is wound, the said motorised reel being rotationally movable about an axis of rotation under the action of an electric motor, and the said further drive signal being usable for the control of the said electric motor.
14. Device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the said electronic control device comprises an integrator receiving at its input a signal correlated Wvith the speed f movement of the said slice along the said guide and generating at its. output the said measurement signal proportional to the actual position of the said slide along the said guide.
Method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre long a path of advance of an optical fibre, the said method comprising the stage of forrming a portion of the said path having a length which can be varied to modify the tension aoplied to the said fibre, 15 characterised in that it comprises the stage of measuring the tensijn applied to the optical fibre and the stage of controlling the said length in an automatic way, by means of a motor, in accordance with the said measured tension, to keep the tension applied to the optical fibre practically constant.
16. Method according to Claim 15, characterised in that it comprises the stage of 20 closed-loop control of the tension applied to the said optical fibre in accordance with at least one reference signal, proportional to a target tension of the fibre, and a measurement signal, which is generated in the said stage of measuring the tension and is proportional to the tension to which the optical fibre is actually subjected.
17. Method according to Claim 16, characterised in that the said stage of closed-loop 25 control of the tension comprises the stages of: comparing the said tension reference signal with the said measurement signal, generating a tension error signal; and processing the said error signal, generating at the output a drive signal which can be used to modify the said length by means of a motor and to keep the tension in the fibre essentially constant. P:\WPDOCSAAMD\SPEC7565970.d.22 D-omb. 2000 -24-
18. Method according to Claim 15, characterised in that it comprises the stage of closed-loop control of the position of a movable memi.er in accordance with at least one position reference signal which is proportional to a target position of the said movable member, and a measurement signal which is proportioi.al to the instantaneous position of the said movable member, the variation of the posil on of the said. movable member causing theivariation of the.said length.
19. Method according to Claim 1.8, characterised in that the optical fibre is stored a the end of the: said advance path, and in that the said si.:ge of closed-loop control of the position of the said movable member comprises the stages of: comparing the said position reference signal with the said position measurement signal, generating a position error signal; and Sprocessing the said position error signal, generating at the output a drive signal which can be used to modify the speed at which the opti :al fibre is store.. Optical fibre processing system, comprising a :ource of optical fibre, an optical 15. fibre tensioning device capable of receiving at its input ;he optical fibre from the sourc:: of optical fibre, and an optical fibre storage device capable of receiving the optical fibre fion the tensioning device, the said tensioning device comp,'ising at least one movable piiey around which the optical fibre is wound, for a certain length at least; the position of the said movable pulley being variable to modify the tensicn.applied to the said optical fibre; 20 the said system being characterised in that the said tensioning device comprises a tension measuring device capable of measuring the said applied tension and of generating a signal .indicating the tension, and a motorised movement device capable of receiving the said Ssignal indicating the tension and of moving the movable pulley in accordance with the said signal indicating the tension, to automatically keep the tension in the fibre essentially 25 constant.
P:\WPOOCSIMDSPECI7.(65970.dc-.22 December 2
21. An optical fibre tensioning device, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. A method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre along a path of advance of an optical fibre, substantially as herein described. DATED this 28th day of December, 2000 PIRELLI CAVI E SISTEMI SPA By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE e
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP99126119 | 1999-12-29 | ||
| EP99126119 | 1999-12-29 |
Publications (2)
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| AU7256500A AU7256500A (en) | 2001-07-05 |
| AU773041B2 true AU773041B2 (en) | 2004-05-13 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU72565/00A Ceased AU773041B2 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-12-29 | Optical fibre tensioning device and method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fibre |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2001272551A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1207227C (en) |
| AR (1) | AR028899A1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE268741T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU773041B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR0006313A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2329822C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE60011380T2 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ509248A (en) |
Families Citing this family (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104570911A (en) * | 2014-12-30 | 2015-04-29 | 中天科技光纤有限公司 | Automatic control device and control method thereof for optical fiber screening |
| CN104944800A (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2015-09-30 | 成都亨通光通信有限公司 | Optical fiber molding method |
| CN105197686A (en) * | 2015-08-31 | 2015-12-30 | 中天科技光纤有限公司 | Novel multigroup re-winding device and control method thereof |
| CN107628473A (en) * | 2016-07-18 | 2018-01-26 | 江苏太阳科技股份有限公司 | A kind of solar energy welding auto take-up |
| CN106443865B (en) * | 2016-10-19 | 2018-12-11 | 广州宏晟光电科技股份有限公司 | A kind of electric push-pull system |
| CN108415134B (en) * | 2018-04-26 | 2020-05-05 | 烽火通信科技股份有限公司 | Method for adjusting pay-off tension of casing and master control system |
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| CN109559887A (en) * | 2018-12-28 | 2019-04-02 | 浙江田中精机股份有限公司 | A kind of servo tensioner |
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| CN110654928A (en) * | 2019-10-24 | 2020-01-07 | 永发印务(四川)有限公司 | Automatic filament tape unwinding device for packaging box filament tape pasting |
| CN111137745A (en) * | 2019-12-26 | 2020-05-12 | 江苏中畅精密科技有限公司 | Tension control device for diamond wire saw production |
| CN111573415A (en) * | 2020-05-27 | 2020-08-25 | 王勇 | 3D printing wire winding device and method with adjustable speed and tension |
| CN115338736B (en) * | 2021-12-09 | 2024-02-27 | 上海爱仕达机器人有限公司 | Constant force automatic polishing machine |
| CN115649460B (en) * | 2022-09-09 | 2023-09-19 | 国网山东省电力公司潍坊供电公司 | Unmanned aerial vehicle high altitude searchlighting system |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5738295A (en) * | 1995-11-28 | 1998-04-14 | W. Schlafhorst Ag & Co. | Process and apparatus for tensioning a traveling thread in a textile machine by means of a comb tensioner |
| US5790292A (en) * | 1995-01-13 | 1998-08-04 | Fujitsu Limited | Optical fiber transmission line |
| US5791542A (en) * | 1996-07-17 | 1998-08-11 | Lawson-Hemphill, Inc. | Yarn test system which moves yarn at high speed under constant, adjustable tension |
-
2000
- 2000-12-19 AT AT00127808T patent/ATE268741T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-12-19 DE DE2000611380 patent/DE60011380T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-12-28 CA CA 2329822 patent/CA2329822C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-12-28 JP JP2000401667A patent/JP2001272551A/en active Pending
- 2000-12-29 BR BR0006313A patent/BR0006313A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-12-29 AR ARP000107025A patent/AR028899A1/en unknown
- 2000-12-29 CN CN 00137254 patent/CN1207227C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-12-29 AU AU72565/00A patent/AU773041B2/en not_active Ceased
-
2001
- 2001-01-04 NZ NZ50924801A patent/NZ509248A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5790292A (en) * | 1995-01-13 | 1998-08-04 | Fujitsu Limited | Optical fiber transmission line |
| US5738295A (en) * | 1995-11-28 | 1998-04-14 | W. Schlafhorst Ag & Co. | Process and apparatus for tensioning a traveling thread in a textile machine by means of a comb tensioner |
| US5791542A (en) * | 1996-07-17 | 1998-08-11 | Lawson-Hemphill, Inc. | Yarn test system which moves yarn at high speed under constant, adjustable tension |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2001272551A (en) | 2001-10-05 |
| DE60011380T2 (en) | 2005-06-23 |
| CN1207227C (en) | 2005-06-22 |
| NZ509248A (en) | 2001-07-27 |
| AU7256500A (en) | 2001-07-05 |
| CA2329822A1 (en) | 2001-06-29 |
| CA2329822C (en) | 2009-02-24 |
| CN1303825A (en) | 2001-07-18 |
| DE60011380D1 (en) | 2004-07-15 |
| ATE268741T1 (en) | 2004-06-15 |
| BR0006313A (en) | 2001-07-31 |
| AR028899A1 (en) | 2003-05-28 |
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